Patience is a Virtue: Disney World Annual Pass Returns With Long Wait Times

Patience is a Virtue: Disney World Annual Pass Returns With Longer Wait Times.

It's a tale as old as time... At least as old as the annual pass sale at Walt Disney World. People eager to get their hands on a pass to "The Most Magical Place on Earth" were met with hours-long wait times on Thursday. And by "hours-long," we mean "longer than the runtime of 'Avatar'."

According to WFLA, the sale was supposed to start at 6 a.m., but as with most things in life, there was a hiccup. Disney fans were left waiting in a virtual queue, staring at their screens with the same level of intensity as a dog waiting for its owner to come home.

As the hours ticked by, people took to social media to express their frustration. Some joked that they had aged a decade while waiting, while others contemplated whether they would even remember their own names by the time they made it to the front of the queue.

But it's not all bad news. Once you get past the waiting screen, you'll be able to purchase one of four different annual passes. The cheapest option, the Disney Pixie Dust Pass, is only available to Florida residents and costs $399. It allows entry on most weekdays, but is subject to blackout dates, including peak and holiday periods. So basically, you can't use it when everyone else is using it. It's like trying to buy a swimsuit in January - sure, you can do it, but why?

For $749, Florida residents can opt for the Disney Pirate Pass. This pass allows entry on most days, but, you guessed it, is also subject to blackout dates. The only way to ensure you can visit the park whenever you want is to go all-in and purchase the Disney Incredi-Pass for $1,399. No blackout dates apply, so you can go to Disney World on Christmas Day if that's your thing. (Just be prepared to wait in line for the Space Mountain ride longer than the wait for the Second Coming.)

And if you're a Disney Vacation Club member or a Florida resident with deep pockets, you can opt for the Disney Sorcerer Pass for the low, low price of $969. This pass allows entry on most days, but is subject to blackout dates on select days during select holiday periods. It's like buying a sandwich that's only available between 2 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. on Tuesdays - it's exclusive, but also kind of inconvenient.

So if you're thinking about getting an annual pass to Disney World, just be prepared to wait. And wait. And wait. But hey, at least you'll have plenty of time to practice your Mickey Mouse impression while you're in the queue.

If you're planning a trip to Disney World in 2023, here's the best time to visit the Happiest Place On Earth.

Everyone knows the enchantment of Disney World spells a magical adventure! From families and friends to couples, solo travelers and even marathoners - Orlando's Walt Disney World is an unequalled experience in the shining Floridian sun.

But with visitor demand at its peak, it pays to plan your trip wisely. A few years ago I had some friends come down with their kids for spring break. Of course they wanted to go to Disney, and I didn't want to miss out on seeing the kids experience it for the first time. Well, I'll tell ya, after that trip, I know when to avoid the parks. I've never gotten hit by so many strollers and the crowds were almost too much to bear. We did get on some rides, but not nearly as many as if we went at another time of year.

Keeping your dream vacation afloat can be overwhelming but luckily there is help available through travel agents like Lauren Masarik of Intouch Vacations, who has spent over 12 years selling every kind of Disney getaway imaginable - so go ahead, live out those fairytale dreams without sweating any details!

Right after school holidays. Not to say it'll be dead (Disney never is), but usually the lowest crowds are right after those school breaks, so you can target mid-January, late April to early May and late August to late September when people don't want to pull their kids out of school.

It all depends on what you're looking for. If you like mid 70s to mid 80s, going in March or late October through late November will give you the best chance for that. If you want extreme heat and humidity, shoot for May-July, but also expect daily rain showers. December-February can get chilly, but temperatures do fluctuate during the day so layer up so you're prepared either way. 

Late August - September is idea because theme park pricing and hotel rooms are priced for demand. During the year, prices for tickets don't go up or down too drastically, however the most expensive days are around the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holiday weeks. The more days you visit though, the less overall you will pay per day.

Here, it really all depends what you're going for, if it's for a specific festival or event. For flexible travelers, Lauren always recommends late April to early May if you want to travel the first half of the year or mid-November/mid-December to enjoy the holiday decorations.

The weeks around Easter; Spring Break and again the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Not to say it's not beautiful at Christmas, because it definitely is, but if you choose that week between holidays, prepare for madness. I went to Epcot the Monday before Christmas and it was busy, but we got on almost everything and didn't have to wait too long for food/drinks either. Magic Kingdom was above average, but Epcot was average and Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios were actually below average crowds.